Inter- and intra-observer variability of qualitative visual breast-composition assessment in mammography among Japanese physicians: a first multi-institutional observer performance study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Visual assessment of mammographic breast composition remains the most common worldwide, although subjective variability limits its reproducibility. This study aimed to investigate the inter- and intra-observer variability in qualitative visual assessment of mammographic breast composition through a multi-institutional observer performance study for the first time in Japan. METHODS: This study enrolled 10 Japanese physicians from five different institutions. They used the new Japanese breast-composition classification system 4th edition to subjectively evaluate the breast composition in 200 pairs of right and left normal mediolateral oblique mammograms (number determined using precise sample size calculations) twice, with a 1-month interval (median patient age: 59 years [range 40-69 years]). The primary endpoint of this study was the inter-observer variability using kappa (κ) value. RESULTS: Inter-observer variability for the four and two classes of breast-composition assessment revealed moderate agreement (Fleiss' κ: first and second reading = 0.553 and 0.587, respectively) and substantial agreement (Fleiss' κ: first and second reading = 0.689 and 0.70, respectively). Intra-observer variability for the four and two classes of breast-composition assessment demonstrated substantial agreement (Cohen's κ, median = 0.758) and almost perfect agreement (Cohen's κ, median = 0.813). Assessments of consensus between the 10 physicians and the automated software Volpara® revealed slight agreement (Cohen's κ; first and second reading: 0.104 and 0.075, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative visual assessment of mammographic breast composition using the new Japanese classification revealed excellent intra-observer reproducibility. However, persistent inter-observer variability, presenting a challenge in establishing it as the gold standard in Japan.

Strontium-89 plus zoledronic acid versus zoledronic acid for patients with painful bone metastatic breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: ß-ray strontium-89 (Sr-89) intra-irradiation therapy has been approved and clinically used to reduce bone metastasis pain not alleviated by bone-modifying agents, external radiation, and analgesic agents. We examined the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZOL) and Sr-89 combination therapy compared with ZOL alone in breast cancer patients with bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on breast cancer patients with bone metastasis to compare the efficacy between ZOL monotherapy and ZOL plus Sr-89 combination therapy. The primary endpoints were changes in urinary NTX levels at 13 weeks and brief pain inventory scores. The secondary endpoints were analgesic drug usages, response rates, changes in bone metabolism markers, quality of life, and adverse event rates. RESULTS: Thirty of the planned 60 cases were randomly assigned to ZOL alone or ZOL + Sr-89. There were no significant differences in the changes in urinary NTX levels between the 2 groups (P = 0.365). There was no consistent difference in the pain score changes between the 2 groups. Sr-89 addition to ZOL slightly reduced the white blood cell and platelet counts. However, all adverse events were Grade 1. Safety and analgesic drug dose reduction were more evident in ZOL + Sr-89. CONCLUSION: This trial showed the lack of benefits from Sr-89 addition to ZOL for breast cancer patients with painful bone metastases. However, safety and analgesic drug dose reduction were more evident in ZOL + Sr-89, indicating its potential for pain control. Sr-89 therapy is safe, thus more effective radiopharmaceuticals are anticipated.

[A Case of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Producing Esophageal Carcinoma].

The patient was a 42-year-old man who presented with dysphagia.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a protruding lesion in the lower thoracic esophagus.Pathological analysis of the lesion showed squamous cell carcinoma.Laboratory data showed leukocytosis(21,200/mL)despite no evidence of infection, and the serum levels of granulocyte colony-stimu- lating factor(G-CSF)were elevated to 283 pg/mL.We diagnosed him with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(Lt, type 1, cT4N4M0, cStage IV a).After administering 2 courses of docetaxel plus cisplatin plus S-1(DCS)as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the patient underwent surgery.The pathological diagnosis was pType 2, T2, N4, M0, pStage IV a. G-CSF immunostaining was positive in tumor cells.After the surgery, the number of leukocytes and serum G-CSF levels decreased to within normal limits.Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered.

[Two Cases of Gastric Endocrine Cell Carcinoma].

The first patient was a man in his eighties who visited our department because of anemia. Gastrofiberscopy revealed a bleeding submucosal tumor, approximately 50mm in diameter, in the cardia ofthe stomach. Considering that he underwent coronary-artery bypass surgery and received 3 oral antithrombotic medicines, his bleeding tendency was so high that we decided to choose partial gastrectomy. A postoperative histopathological examination revealed that the tumor was a small cell endocrine carcinoma. The second patient was a woman in her seventies. She had consulted her personal physician because of gastric ulcers; periodic gastrofiberscopy revealed a type 3 gastric cancer, approximately 40mm in diameter, on the posterior wall ofthe middle section ofher stomach. It was histologically diagnosed as a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. On a preoperative blood examination, the levels ofhormones such as glucagon, serotonin, and gastrin were within their respective normal limits. Total gastrectomy was performed, and she received oral S-1 for adjuvant chemotherapy since her discharge from the hospital.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: single institution experience and literature review.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is a rapidly evolving field as a bridge between traditional laparoscopic surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. We report one of the initial clinical experiences in Japan with this new technique. Four cases of gallbladder diseases were selected for this new technique. A single curved intra-umbilical 25-mm incision was made by pulling out the umbilicus. A 12-mm trocar was placed through an open approach, and the abdominal cavity was explored with a 10-mm semi-flexible laparoscope. Two 5-mm ports were inserted laterally from the laparoscope port. A 2-mm mini-loop retractor was inserted to retract the fundus of the gallbladder. Dissection was performed using an electric cautery hook and an Endograsper roticulator. There were two women and two men with a mean age of 50.5 years (range: 40-61 years). All procedures were completed successfully without any perioperative complications. In all cases, there was no need to extend the skin incision. Average operative time was 88.8 min. Postoperative follow-up did not reveal any umbilical wound complication. Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and a promising alternative method as scarless abdominal surgery for the treatment of some patients with gallbladder disease.

[A case of primary small intestinal cancer accompanied by virchow lymph node metastasis undergoing TS-1 treatment].

A 72-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of left neck lymph node swelling. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed wall thickening of the small intestine and multiple lymph node metastases. Barium meal study of the small intestine showed circular stenosis. The patient was operated on under a diagnosis of tumor of the small intestine and left neck lymph node swelling. Needle biopsy of the left neck lymph node and partial resection of the small intestine was done without regional lymph node dissection because of Virchow lymph node metastasis. On the resected material a 5 x 4 cm type 2 tumor was identified. Pathological findings included poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma, si (bladder), n 4, P 0, ly 3, v 3, H 0, M(-), Stage IV. The patient received the chemotherapy with TS-1. TS-1(80 mg/body/day) orally administered for 4 weeks followed by a drug-free 2-week period as one course. CT revealed that the metastatic lesion had shrunk markedly after the second course. A complete response (CR) was observed after one year. There were no drug side effects. At present, 3 years and 9 months after the operation, cervical and abdominal CT reveals no evidence of enlargement of the cervical and intraperitoneal lymph nodes.

Percutaneous cholecystocholedochostomy for cholecystitis and cystic duct obstruction in gallbladder carcinoma.

Percutaneous cholecystocholedochostomy was performed in a patient with acute cholecystitis caused by cystic duct obstruction by gallbladder carcinoma, but removal of the percutaneous cholecystostomy catheter was unsuccessful because of continuing discharge. After creation of a cholecystocholedochostomy through the cholecystostomy tract with use of a transjugular liver access set and a 21-gauge needle, self-expandable metallic stents were placed in the narrowed common bile duct and the newly created tract between the gallbladder and the common hepatic duct. The external cholecystostomy catheter was successfully removed after the procedure. Jaundice occurred 70 days later as a result of tumor invasion above the segment with the stent, and an additional stent was placed. The patient died of diffuse metastasis 143 days after creation of the cholecystocholedochostomy without recurrence of cholecystitis.